Hydraulic turbine



July .13, 1937.

T. NORBOM I HYDRAULIC TURBINE Filed Sept. 17, 1936 4 Sheets-sheet 1 TORLEIF NORBOM July 13, 1937. T. NORBOM 7 HYDRAULIC TURBINE Filed Sept. 17, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 v m z 9. 2 as 4 5 A. 8 9 w E 3 Z 4 8 w a k %J\- 4\ a ,7. 2x 3 w J \NN- r m s X 4 a r R\ a a 7 W 3 3 m 1 (I I I q 3 i I 3 6 I my %mu T. 7 3 JJIT. FIT LI 4i w e M 02 3 2 56 7 f W 5 n6. 3 2

TORLEI F NORBOM r M W July 13, 1937. T. NORBOM HYDRAULIC TURBINE Filed Sept. 17, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet s TORL'EIF' NORBOM July 13, 1937. T. NORBOM 2,086,633

HYDRAULIC TURBINE Filed Sept. 17, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 as I TORLEIF NQRBOM Patented July 13, 1937 UNITED STATES,

PATENT, OFFICE Smith Company, Pennsylvania York,

Pa., a corporation of Application September 17, 1936, Serial No. 101,327

3 Claims.

This invention relates to hydraulic machines, such as hydraulic turbines, pumps and the like, and more particularly to the type of hydraulic machines having runners with movable or adjustable blades. The blades of the runners of the above type of hydraulic machines are formed with trunnions which are rotatably mounted within the hub of the runner. provided within the runner hub and operatively connected operating the blades to alter the relative positions thereof. The present invention relates more particularly to the specific manner of mounting the blades in the runner hub.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for journaling the blades in the runner hub of an adjustable blade hydraulic machine so that the blades can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide detachable main bearings for the runner blades of an adjustable blade hydraulic machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hydraulic machine of the character mentioned, which is simple in construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service.

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of which it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure l is a view partly in section of an adjustable blade hydraulic turbine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the runner hub;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the outer wall of the runner hub showing one of the openings for a blade, the blade and parts associated with the trunnion thereof being omitted;

Fig-5 is a section of a portion of the hub shown in Fig. 2, showing the manner of assem-' bling or disassembling one of the runner blades; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the turbine is shown connected to an the purpose of operating the same, the complete generating unit may comprise a'hydraulic turbine to the trunnions for simultaneously electric generatoffor" II, an electrical generator I2, and a governor mechanism I3.

As is'well known in the art, the governor I3 is adapted to automatically control the operation of the turbine, so that the turbinewill operate at a substantially uniform speed, irrespective of the variations of the load.

The turbine H has a runner which is made with adjustable blades, the angular positions of which are adapted to be varied according to the load, so that the turbine will operate at its highest efficiency at all times.

In mechanisms falling within the scope of the present invention, the operating fluid is generally oil, means being provided for controlling the oilin such a manner that when the governor l3 operates to adjust the angles of the wicket gates of the turbine, the runner blades will be caused to rotate in a similar direction so as to effect a corresponding adjustment in the angles or positions thereof; In this way the parts of the turbine will be simultaneously adjusted so that all of the parts will at all times retain their correct relationship with each other and the turbine will operate with maximum efficiency and smoothness and with minimum vibration.

For the purpose of controlling the actuation of the runner blade operating mechanism, a control device l5 may be employed. This control device may be operatively connected with the governor l3 and function in the manner shown and described in McCormack Patent No. 1,937,772, granted December 5, 1933 for Hydraulic turbine.

The turbine l I may comprise a casing it which forms a peripheral water inlet in which are mounted an annular series of wicket gates 11 and guide vanes l8.

The wicket gates IT are rotatably mounted in the casing l6 and said gates are operatively. connected to a gate adjusting ring I!) connected by link means 20 to a shaft 2| of the governor mechanism l3, so that the wicket gates I! will be simultaneously rotated into different angular positions to control the flow of water into the turbine.

The lower portion of the turbine casing forms an axially directed chamber 22 in which the runner 23 operates. v

Asshown in Fig. 2, thehub of the runner 23 is fixed to the lower end of a hollow or tubular shaft 24. The upper end of shaft '24 is connected to the generator shaft, as shown in Fig. 1.

'A suitable number of blades 25 are rotatably supported in the hub of the runner 23 and project radially therefrom.

The inner end of each blade 25 is formed with a trunnion 26, composed of an outer portion 21, intermediate portions 28, 29, and 30, and an inner portion 3!.

The outer trunnion portion 21 is formed with an annular recess or groove 32 for the reception of a band 33, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The trunnion portion 28 is mounted in a bushing 34 carried by a removable bearing 35 to be hereinafter more fully described.

Mounted on the trunnion portion 29 is an arm or lever 35 of the blade operating mechanism.

The inner end portion 3i of the trunnion is mounted in a bearing 37 carried by the hub of the runner 23, and encircling the portion 30 of the trunnion is a thrust collar 38.

Means are provided for simultaneously rotating all of the blades 25 and for maintaining them in equal angular relationship, such means comprising an operating rod 40 mounted within the downwardly of the hub of the runner 23.

Fixed to the lower end of the rod 4i is a cross head 4!, which. is connected by links 62 to the arms or levers 36 heretofore referred to.

The upper end of the operating rod 48 is fixed to the piston of a servomotor i3 1 point where the runner shaft is connected to the shaft of the generator [2 (see Fig. 1).

In some instances it runner blades 25 in the hub of the runner 23 split lever is. not strong enough and a solid or one piece lever must be used.

According to the present invention, when the parts of each blade are being assembled, the

mounted thereon the bushing 34 and the bearing 35, respectively, while the blade is disassembled from the hub of the runner 23.

The arm or lever 36 is next mounted on the portion 29 of the trunnion 26, said lever being,

rigidly connected to the trunnion by means of a key 45, as shown in Fig. 3.

The thrust collar 38 is next mounted on the portion 35 of the trunnion 26. Sincethe internal diameter of collar 38 is less then the diameters of the portions 29 and 3 l of the trunnion, said collar may be formed of two semicircular sections, as shown in Fig. 6, Whichsections are bolted together. I

The bearing 35 is formed of an annular casting having a paratively thick in cross section, as.shWn .in. Figs. 2 and 5, for the reception.;.of the bushing 34.

,bead 41 whlch and 28 of the trunnion 25 have.

The bushing 34 is coextensive with the thick central end of said bushing is formed with an outwardly extending flange 45 which is disposed between the inner wall of the bearing 35 and the front wall of the lever 36.

During the operation of the machine, rotation of the runner 23 that the levers 36 will operate The inner bearing 35 freely. face of the outer portion of the is formed with an annular rib or Wit distance greater than the diameter of the opening 7 Therefore, in order to permit the insertion or removal of the trunnion ing 5!,

The notch or slot 56 (see Figs. 3 and 4)..

outer portion of thesperiphery 35, that is to say, that portion which extends'beyond the por- Enclosing the of the bearing of said bearing The sealing ring 5'! is detachably connected to the bearing .35 by means of tap bolts 59, as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the blades 25 can be readily assembled or 7 disassembled with the arms or levers 36 mounted on the trunnions 26. In prior constructions where'the levers were first placed within the hub and then mounted on the trunnions, it was necessary to heat the levers and then insert the trunnions and let the levers cool in place. In

. the event it was necessary to dismantle the blades from the runner, it was necessary to split the levers so as to remove the same from the trunnions before the blades could be dismounted. With the runners constructed with the removable bearings 35, the blades can be easily dismounted with the levers attached thereto.

As shown in Fig. 3, the normal intermediate position of the levers 36 is in a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the axis of rotation of the blades. I

When it is desired to either insert or withdraw the trunnions 26 through the openings 5|, the blades 25 are turned to the position in which the arm of lever 36 registers with the slot 56 (see dotted lines Fig. 3).

In the case when a blade is being mounted in the hub after the trunnion with the bearing 35 and lever 36 thereon has been inserted through the opening 5|, the blade is turned to move the lever 36 upwardly to a substantially horizontal position, (see Fig. 3). After which the lever 36 can be connected to the upper ends of the links 42, by pin 60. The other ends of the links 42 are connected by a pin Bl to an eye bolt 62 carried by the cross head 4|.

Due to the pivotal connection between the lower ends of the links 42 and the bolt 62 alfforded by pin 6!, when it is desired to remove a blade 25, the upper ends of the links 42 can be detached from the lever 36 by removing pin BI], and then the blade will be free to swing so that the lever 35 can be positioned to pass freely through the slot 56 when the trunnion 26 is withdrawn through opening 5i.

In this way the runner blades can be quickly and easily assembled or disassembled with the lever 36 mounted thereon, and a sturdy construction is provided by the large removable bearing 35.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:-

1. A hydraulic machine comprising a runner having a hollow hub, a plurality of rotatable blades, each of said blades having a trunnion extending into the hub; means for simultaneously operating the blades comprising a rod and means for reciprocating the same, a cross head connected to said rod, a lever mounted on an intermediate portion of the trunnion of each blade and projecting laterally therefrom, and a link connecting the lever of each blade with said cross head; an opening formed in the outer wall of said hub through which the trunnion of each blade extends, said lever projecting outwardly from said trunnion a distance greater than the diameter of said opening, a slot formed in said opening to permit the insertion or withdrawal of the trunnion through said opening when said-lever is mounted on the trunnion, a bearing mounted on a portion of said trunnion outwardly with respect to said lever, a recess formed in the outer wall of the hub around the trunnion opening therein, said bearing having an outer peripheral portion mounted in, said recess and enclosing said slot, means for detachably connecting said bearing with the hub of the runner, and a packing encircling the bearing for sealing the joint between said bearing and the hub.

2. A hydraulic machine comprising a runner having a hollow hub, a plurality of rotatable blades, each of said blades having a trunnion extending into the hub, means within the hub for simultaneously operating the blades and including a lever fixed to the trunnion of each blade and projecting laterally therefrom, an opening formed in the outer wall of the runner hub through which each blade trunnion with a 3 lever mounted thereon can be inserted and withdrawn, a bearing also mounted on the outer portion of the trunnion between the lever and the blade proper, a recess formed in the outer wall of the hub for said bearing, and means for detachably connecting said bearingwith the hub of the runner.

3. A hydraulic machine comprising a runner having a hollow hub, a plurality, of rotatable blades, each of said blades having a trunnion extending into the hub through an opening formed in the outer wall of the hub, mechanisms within the hub for simultaneously operating the blades, said mechanism including a lever fixed to the intermediate portion of the trunnion of each blade, a bearing mounted on the portion of the trunnion between the lever and the blade. proper, means for preventing movement of the bearing longitudinally of the trunnion, and means for detachably connecting the bearing with the hub of the runner, so that a blade can be assembled or disassembled with a bearing and lever mounted on its trunnion.

TORLEIF NORBOM.

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